San Diego Padres - TeamReport

Adding another piece to a revamped bullpen, the San Diego Padres signed right-handed reliever Joaquin Benoit on Dec. 28.

The free agent received a two-year, $15.5 million contract. The deal includes a vesting option for 2016.

Benoit, 36, posted 24 saves last season for the Detroit Tigers, but he likely will be a setup man for closer Huston Street with the Padres. He takes the place of right-handed setup man Luke Gregerson, who was sent to the Oakland A's in an early-December deal that netted outfielder Seth Smith.

Benoit, who recovered from shoulder problems four years ago, worked 67 innings in 2013 and had a 4-1 record with a 2.01 ERA.

In 12 years in the major leagues with the Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays and the Tigers, Benoit has a 44-35 record with a 4.11 ERA and 37 saves.

Street had 33 saves for the Padres in 2013. He will make $7 million in 2014.

The Padres' bullpen picture was cloudy at the end of the winter meetings on Dec. 12.

To land Smith, the Padres had to part with Gregerson. Just before that, San Diego designated right-handed relievers Brad Brach and Miles Mikolas for assignment while contouring the 40-man roster. Mikolas was subsequently traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, who then dealt him to the Texas Rangers.

The Padres also dealt a right-handed reliever during the winter meetings to land the left-handed specialist they were missing not only from the 40-man but also from the top two levels of the minor leagues.

San Diego sent right-hander Anthony Bass to Houston with the agreement that the Astros would take left-hander Patrick Schuster with the first pick of the Rule 5 draft for the Padres.

-----------------------------------------------

MLB Team Report - San Diego Padres - NOTES, QUOTES

--LHP Alex Torres was acquired by the Padres in a seven-player trade with the Rays on Jan. 22.

Torres, 26, made 39 relief appearances for Tampa Bay in 2013, finishing 4-2 with a 1.71 ERA. He struck out 62 and walked 20 in 58 innings.

Hahn, 24, made 19 starts for high Class A Charlotte last year, going 2-1 with a 2.09 ERA.

Forsythe, 27, batted .214 in 75 games with the Padres in 2013 while dealing with a foot injury. In 2012, he hit .273 and posted career highs in hits (86), doubles (13), RBIs (26), runs (45), on-base percentage (.343) and walks (28).

The versatile Forsythe started at five different positions in 2013: second base, shortstop, third base, left field and right field.

Boxberger, 25, compiled a 2.86 ERA in 18 appearances with the Padres last year after making the Opening Day roster.

Andriese, 24, made 15 starts for Double-A San Antonio and 10 starts and two relief appearances for Triple-A Tucson in 2013. He posted a combined 11-7 record with a 3.27 ERA.

Lollis, 23, split the 2013 season between Class A Lake Elsinore, Tucson and San Antonio, going 3-8 with a 4.62 ERA in 58 appearances. In parts of five major league seasons, the 6-foot-9 right-hander has a career record of 15-33 with a 4.79 ERA.

Tissenbaum, 22, spent the 2013 season with Class A Fort Wayne, batting .277 in 111 games.

--RHP Ian Kennedy and the Padres avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year, $6.1 million deal Jan. 16. Kennedy, 29, was acquired by San Diego from Arizona last summer. He finished the season a combined 7-10 with a 4.91 ERA in 31 starts.

--SS Everth Cabrera and the Padres agreed to a one-year, $2.45 million contract Jan. 16, avoiding arbitration. Cabrera, 27, missed the final 50 games of 2013 after he was suspended for his involvement with the Biogenesis clinic that reportedly supplied performance-enhancing drugs to players. He hit .283/.355/.381 with four homers, 31 RBIs and 37 stolen bases in 95 games last year, earning his first All-Star appearance.

--RHP Tyson Ross and the Padres avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year, $1.98 million deal Jan. 16. Ross, 26, went 3-8 with a 3.17 ERA in 35 games (16 starts) in 2013.

--RHP Adys Portillo, designated for assignment by the Padres on Dec. 28, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Double-A San Antonio on Jan. 6. Portillo, 22, made just three minor league appearances, all starts, in an injury-filled 2013 season, going 0-1 with a 4.82 ERA for Class A Fort Wayne.

--1B/OF Jesus Guzman was traded by the Padres to the Astros in exchange for 3B Ryan Jackson on Dec. 18. The move clears part of San Diego's logjam at the outfield and first base positions.

Guzman, 29, hit .226/.297/.378 with nine homers and 35 RBIs in 126 games last season. He will be eligible for arbitration this winter.

Jackson, 25, appeared in seven games last season with the St. Louis Cardinals, then was claimed off waivers by the Astros in November. He is likely to serve as infield insurance in the Padres' farm system.